The National Transportation Safety Board released new details about what happened before the helicopter crashed that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, CNN reports.
What happened: The final transmission revealed the helicopter pilot told traffic control he was climbing higher to avoid the foggy clouds. The air traffic control asked the pilot what he planned to do. The pilot did not respond, according to CNN.
- The last contact was made at 9:45 a.m. PT on Sunday.
- Radar information showed the helicopter rose to 2,300 feet before making a descending left turn, according to CNN.
- The crash impact destroyed the helicopter into several pieces. The debris field filled 500 to 600 feet of land.
- NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy told CNN: “There is (an) impact area on one of the hills and a piece of the tail is down the hill, on the left side of the hill. The fuselage is over on the other side of that hill, and then the main rotor is about 100 yards beyond that.”
- The NTSB is still investigating the crash.
Another take: Robert Ditchey, a longtime airplane pilot, wondered why the helicopter would still fly after the local Los Angeles police department elected not to fly its helicopters, according to USA Today.
- Ditchey: “The weather is not good enough for the police to fly. Why should Kobe do it?’’
Yes, but: The pilot, Ara Zobayan, received clearance to fly in the foggy weather, NBC News reports.
Bigger picture: Much of the NBA world reacted to Bryant’s death. Past and present Utah Jazz stars — from Karl Malone to Donovan Mitchell — weighed in, too, according to the Deseret News